Soft & Chewy Pudding Cookies
Ever since I learned how easy it is to make homemade pudding, it’s unlikely you’d catch me at the grocery store buying a packet of the instant stuff. You know, the little box of powder where you just add milk and wait five minutes? I thought I was done with it for good. And for the most part I am. At least I’m done buying it for its intended purpose. However, did you know that instant pudding can be a great addition to some of your favorite baked goods? It’s not uncommon for bakers to add a packet to their favorite cake recipe for added moisture or even to whipped cream for a stabilized, flavored frosting, but my personal favorite way to incorporate pudding into my baking is in the form of these Pudding Cookies.
The Key is in the Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a favorite “secret ingredient” of mine, and if you’ve tried my chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies (or just about any of my other cookie recipes!) you might have noticed I use it frequently. You’ve probably heard me say this a million times, but adding cornstarch helps to make cookies (and other baked goods like my favorite coffee cake) soft and tender. Well guess what: Cornstarch is a key main ingredient in instant pudding, so it probably makes sense that it helps make these Pudding Cookies super soft and chewy, too, in addition to adding a little extra fun flavor.
What Flavor of Pudding Should I Use?
You can use any flavor of instant pudding that you’d like, but here are a few of my personal favorites:
Vanilla (a safe bet that doesn’t add an overwhelming flavor) Caramel (current favorite, and the flavor I used to make the cookies you see in the photos here) Cheesecake Cookies & Cream
Feel free to experiment with your own favorite varieties, and if anyone is bold enough to try a fruit flavor, I’d love to hear how that tastes (I’ve stuck to sweet dessert flavorings only so far)!
Now, if you’re a cookie snob and the idea of adding instant pudding to your cookie dough doesn’t sit quite right with you, I totally get it. Additives and artificial flavorings are usually things I avoid in my baking and over the years I’ve become quite the cookie snob myself! Please feel free to stick to my other super soft cookie recipes, like my M&M Cookies or Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies if instant pudding just isn’t your thing! However, adding pudding mix to my cookies was one of my favorite experiments when I was just learning how to bake, and to this day it’s one of my favorite ways to get super soft cookies and remains one of my family favorites. Enjoy! I originally shared this cookie recipe over on The Recipe Critic!
More Recipes You Might Like:
S’mores Cookies Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Let’s bake together! Be sure to check out my video at the bottom of the recipe where I’ll show you exactly how I make these Cinnamon Roll Cookies in my own kitchen! If you enjoy watching, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 150 recipe videos that you can watch for free!
